PERSONAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, 17 July 1916, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

Captain Hammond has received official advice from the Minister of Defence stating that his brother, Sergeant 'B. L. \ .Hammond, had been wounded in the . legs and arms and was admitted to hospital on the 6th inst. \

Private Gresley, Lukin, of the Arrhy Service iCorps, is, far as known, the only Nelson ian on the Ulimaroa, which has reached iD'unedin ■from Suez.

Mrs Joseph Primmer, who resides -with her daughter", Mrs Macdonald, in Collingwood-street, celebrated her 97th birthday yesterday. Mrs Primmer arrived in Nelson with her husband in the Bolton on March 15th, 1842, and , has lived in the Nelson district ever since, first in the Maitai and afterwards at Stoke and Richmond. She has had;, sixteen children, twelve of whom aire, still living. There are also upwards , of 60grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren,, and three great-great-grandchildren. .Mrs Primmer -who is blind, and frail, has still a fairly good memory -with regard to the past, and it is interesting to, hear her tell of the experiences and hardships of the early colonists.

Mr and ■> Mrs Thomas . Neal, -of Marshlands, celebrated their golden wedding on July 6th, having lived all of their married 'life in the Marlborough says the Express. Mr Neal was one of the first three -white children born in Nelson, his father arriving :in that province with the expeditionary party in 1842. Mrs Neal Was also born in Nelson, being a daughter of Mr Busch, of Aniseed Valley. Their first residence in Marlborough was at Marlchased a farm there, where he resided at Waikawa, Picton, ; for five years. Coming to Spring Creek, Mr Neal purchased a farm there, where he ->esid'eq until early in the 'nineties, when he removed to his present residence at Marshlands. The descendants'number 12 children, all but one ''.(Mrs J. McDonnell, who lives in still living in Marlborough. There are 66 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, making a totalof 86, 68 of them being present at the celebration. The old. couple were the recipients of several presents.

" "Movie" patrons - know, all about, "movie" players, but they seldom . pr never give a thought to the one who writes the stories -which enthral them so. There is at present at Oamaru •, a New Zealander (he was born and educated at Ghristchurch} who has contributed not a few of the stories that helo to provide entertainment for world-audi-ences. This is Mr Star-King Mason. Mr Mason,has written a number.of big productions by the Vitagraph and other companies, chief among which are 'The Leading of the Light' arid' 'Sons of Sa-/ tan.' He has recently had a big storyaccepted for production, and the worth of the theme provided is'attested to_by the fact that the writer has been privi- ■ leged to choose his own scenic - effect", for; the staging" of the story. For this purpose ho has A'isited North . Otago, where Mr Mason says the scenes in the Kurow district are more suitable than those to be obtained elsewhere in New Zealand. Photographs will be taken of the views desired, and these will be forwarded to America as a. guide to the required sotting.